NORTHVILLIANS,

Many of you know how important our Rivers have been to the development of our community. During the early 1800’s, the first Grist Mills in the Michigan Territory were centered here because of the multiple rivers coming together from 4 counties, establishing Northville as an actual headwaters area of southeastern Michigan.

In the Detroit area, everything is down-river from Northville. We are the highest point in the county, and we have the river system that leads to the Detroit River. Historically, Northville has been referred to as the “Hamlet in the Hills” or the “Switzerland of Wayne County” because of its topography. The aquatic pathways that flow through southeastern Michigan all come together in our community (Upper Rouge River, Johnson Creek and Randolph Drain). Today, we are reimagining this recreational resource with a riverwalk of connected trails and pathways.

Before we look at our rivers, let’s see what’s happening in town today:

• April 6^th – Turnbull Mayoral Town Hall (7:00 PM), Live (in-person) and also streamed online. Topic: State of the Community, Lansing Update and Q & A. The Northville Township Team offered their modern hybrid facility (Township Hall at Six Mile & Sheldon) for this event. Attend live, or click on the following link: https://smart.newrow.com/#/room/fga-386

• April 13^th – Northville Chamber annual State of the Community Luncheon. Speakers include Mary Kay Gallagher (Superintendent Northville Schools), Mark Abbo (Northville Township Supervisor) and me, the Northville Mayor. Click on the box below for more info.
   
                                        
   
• Our local monthly Car Shows will start up again (2^nd Saturday of each month May - November) with an informal gathering beginning April 9^th (Weather permitting). Details to follow – Behind Alexander’s Custom Clothiers at 124 W. Main.
   
• Looking for some Northville memorabilia from one of our esteemed past Mayors (Mike Allen)?  Stop by the Allen estate sale at 300 Fairbrook St. April 1-2, from 10-4. For more info here is the link.
  
  Downtown Social District Update
• Spring is coming – the future schedule of weekend “music in the streets” and other events in the downtown will be posted by our DDA soon. Get ready for summer!
• The City Council previously approved the downtown streets to be part of a Social District until Nov 1^st, as was recommended by the DDA. The Council will monitor this situation closely. To collect community input, surveys will be out shortly with future options.
  
  Northville Development Update
• Potential Downs Development – The Planning Commission will review the proposed site plan in detail with specific topics for each meeting, starting April 5^th. Public comment will continue to be welcomed at these gatherings. Planning Commission meeting packages can be found on the city web site. For additional info on the Downs site plan, click on www.northvilledowns.info.
• As stated in my last letter, the Foundry Flask Development (80 apartments) on East Cady in the Beal Town area has gone through their final site plan approval process.
• These developments could potentially be partners in our Rouge Restoration & Riverwalk initiative, with an opportunity to daylight the river connecting city, county & State parks.
  
  Covid-19 Confirmed Cases: 
  Northville has had 704 cases/6 fatalities, Township 5775/80, Michigan 2.4M/36K, Nation 80M/977K, Global 480M/6.1M. (CDC.com)

Now let's look at how important the rivers have been to us over time in Northville. 

We are the headwaters of 4 counties’ water systems – Rouge River, Johnson Creek and Randolph Drain. Planned future pathways will join citizens in southeastern Michigan together along their banks. These three tributaries all run downstream into the Detroit River and eventually the Great Lakes.

Looking at our 4 major historic sections, you can see their connection to our riverways.

Orchard Heights
(7 Mile area to Main St & Rogers to Clement – OLV, Rural Hill, Fish Hatchery Park)

• Early on during the 1870’s and 1880’s, Northvillians in the Orchard Heights area would go to the Northville Fish Hatchery to swim in one of their 13 ponds which was fed by the Johnson Creek. Today, this section of “Holy Water” is one of the only cold-water streams partially fed by natural springs and supports vast numbers of trout, especially from the Northville Downs area to Fish Hatchery Park.
• In the past year or so, through the use of special grants, we disbursed close to $880K on habitat and river restoration at the Fish Hatchery Park. Take time out to see how this one area of the riverwalk is taking shape.
• Finally, at the end of Eaton Drive at Seven Mile, there was a pond where Joe Denton Park is today. This spring-fed pond was connected to the City’s water supply and also contributed to the Johnson Creek.

• In the early lumbering days when sawmills were run from power harnessed from the river, the Rouge tributary was dammed up to create the Mill Race Pond. This was part of the “village workshop waterway system” which over many years housed Grist Mills, sawmills and provided industrial power for the Ford Valve Plant. Many folks had homes on the banks of the Rouge River to keep cool in the summers and for the relaxation of the running water.

• The Rouge River (after the Randolph Drain) runs through the entire Bealtown area, flowing in by the Wagon Wheel. Last century, the river through Northville Downs was entombed underground to provide more land for the Wayne County Fair.  As many of you have heard, we’re investigating daylighting this portion of the river.

• The Johnson Creek connects to the Rouge close to Custard Time and the Good Time Party Store. After WWII, Wayne County built what we would call today a “splash park” as you enter the parkway. When I was a kid, there were still remnants of the concrete wading pools & sprinklers next to the river.

• The Randolph Drain (also called Randolph Creek) snakes its way through this historic area and is quite significant during rainfall. Last century at the edge of the Historic District (8 Mile & Randolph), the Randolph Drain Authority took shape to guide the waters coming to town from Oakland County down Taft.

So now you know the rest of the story...Northville is the headwaters of various counties because of its topography. From the earliest days of the Michigan Territory until today (almost 200 years), the rivers continue to transition us, with a vision of connecting city, county and State parks together for the benefit of all in southeastern Michigan.

I look forward to walking with you on an “envisioned riverwalk” tour in the near future.

Keep that Northville River Walk Faith!